Churn c. 1941

David S. De Vault painted “Churn” with watercolor, I imagine carefully layering the pigment to capture the light on its surface.   I wonder, did the artist have one of these in their home? Were they trying to record a piece of history or simply capture the beauty of a humble object? The muted browns and blues, rendered so delicately, give the Churn a quiet presence. It’s not just a container; it's a piece of someone’s life. The floral decoration rendered in cobalt blue is a beautiful, whimsical flourish. I'm imagining the artist thinking of the person who painted it onto the original churn - perhaps considering the conversations they might have had while making these motifs. It gives a personality to the churn, a touch of folk art that elevates its everyday function. Painting like this connects us to the past but also to each other. It is part of an ongoing conversation among artists across time, inspiring and building on one another's visions.